Ottawa Police Service Works to Reduce Occupation Footprint -- 1,775 Tickets Issued

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Thursday, February 10, 2022   3:15pm

(Ottawa) – The Ottawa Police Service and its partners are continuing to work to put an end to the unlawful demonstrations in the downtown core, respond to calls for service, and improve neighbourhood safety.

Yesterday, the Ottawa Police Service provided a message to demonstrators highlighting that it is a criminal offence to obstruct, interrupt or interfere with the lawful use, enjoyment or operation of property.

We continue to advise demonstrators not to enter Ottawa, and to go home.

As of 11:00 AM EST, the Ottawa Police Service can report:

Enforcement and Charges Laid

• Police have responded to nearly 1000 calls for service in relation to the demonstrations since they began.
• Police continue to prevent people from supplying fuel and other material supports to demonstrators.
• There have been 25 arrests in relation to criminal charges. This includes charges for the following:
  • Public Mischief and Mischief
  • Resist Police
  • Flight from Police
  • CDSA Possession Schedule 1
  • Drive Disqualified
  • Breach of Probation
  • Menacing
  • Transportation of fuel

• Bylaw and Police Services have issued more than 1,550 tickets, including tickets for the following:
  • Excessive noise
  • Use of Fireworks
  • Failure to drive in marked lane
  • Red light violations
  • Driving through a No Truck Route
  • Seatbelt violation
  • Driving a motor vehicle on a sidewalk
  • Cellphone
  • Disobey sign
  • Improper muffler
  • Tint (too dark)
  • Obstructed license plate
  • Failure to produce documents
  • Stunt Driving (vehicle seized)
  • Suspended license
  • No Insurance

• Several vehicles were seized and towed, including one stolen truck and an abandoned vehicle in a roadway.

• On February 7, 2022, Justice McLean of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice granted a temporary injunction restraining any person, who has notice of the court order, from using air horns or train horns, other than those on a motor vehicle of a municipal fire department in the vicinity of downtown. This order is being enforced by the Ottawa Police Service and its partners.

Perimeter and Traffic Control

• Officers negotiated the removal of 12 trucks at the Coventry Road encampment.
• Ten additional trucks departed from the Downtown Core.
• Kent St. remains blocked with traffic between Wellington and Somerset.
• Hundreds of concrete and heavy equipment barricades remain in place throughout Centretown, Lowertown, ByWard Market, Sandy Hill and the Glebe.

Intelligence and Investigations

• 126 active criminal offence investigations in relation to the demonstration.
• Investigative Units estimate that approximately 25% of heavy vehicles are currently being used to house families with children. We have consulted the Children’s Aid Society to ensure the safety of these children remains a top priority (per the joint statement).
• An investigation is underway after an demonstrators refused to stop for Traffic Unit officer and hit a police cruiser near Bank and Flora at noon. No one was injured.
• The Ottawa Police Service is actively working with Canadian, U.S. and international security agencies authorities to investigate email-based threats to public officials.
• Worked with Ohio police authorities on menacing charges and an arrest in relation to swatting activity.
• The Hate-motivated crime hotline has received over 413 calls, and Detectives are ensuring every report is investigated.
• Intelligence and evidence gathering teams continue to collect financial, digital, vehicle registration, driver identification, insurance status, and other related evidence that will be used in criminal prosecutions.

Operations

• All available Ottawa Police Service officers remain on active duty, focusing on patrolling and addressing unlawful and threatening conduct in Centretown, Sandy Hill, Lowertown and the ByWard Market.
• Ottawa Police are not returning seized items associated to the demonstration, such as fuel.
• Operations are ongoing to shut down demonstrator staging and supply sites, including those on Coventry Road.
• The Ottawa Police Service is working with policing partners and all levels of government to secure additional resources and further escalate enforcement operations.

We encourage all residents who have witnessed or been the victim of unlawful behaviour to please contact the Ottawa Police at (613) 236-1222 ext 7300, or ext 5015 for hate related crimes. Reports may also be submitted online at www.ottawapolice.ca.

The Ottawa Police Service will continue to provide updates as they become available.

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CONTACT:

Media Relations Section                  

Tel: 613-236-1222, ext. 5366